Circular knitting machine



Feb. 17, 1959 W, RKIN- 2,873,592

CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE HHM...-

Feb. 17, 1959 w.l ARK1N 2,873,592

CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE Filed July 23, 1954 v 12 sheets=sheet 2 y -ml 37 f7 /l rr.

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Feb. 17, 1959 w. LARKIN 2,873,592

CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE Filed July 23, 1954 l 12 sheets-sheet s Feb. 17, 1959 w, LARKlN v 2,873,592

CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE Filed July 25, 1954 l2 Sheets-Sheet 4 Feb. 17, 1959 w, LAWN `2,873,592

CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE- Filed July 23, 1954 I l2 Sheets`Sheet 6 Feb. V17, 1959 w. LARKIN i l2,373,592

, CIRCULAR KNITTINC MACHINE Filed July 23, 1954 12 sheets-sheet '7 Feb. 17, 1959 w. LARKIN CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE 12 sheets-sheet a Filed July 23, 1954 Feb. 17, 1959 w. LARKIN 2,873,592

v CIRCULARKNITTIN'G MACHINE FiledJuly 2s, 1954'- 1'2 Sheets-sheet 9 157g, LQ

Fel). 17, 1959 w, LARKm 2,873,592

' CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE Filed July 25, 1954 I 12 sheets-sheet 1o Feb. 17, 1959 w. LARKIN 2,873,592

CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE Filed July 23, 1954 12 Sheets-Sheet 1l Feb. 17, 1959 w. LARKIN 2,873,592

I CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE Filed July 23, 1954 1 12 Sheets-Sheet 12 CIRCULAR KNITTIN G MACHINE AWalter Larkin, Norristown, Pa., assignor to Fidelity Machine Company, Inc., Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania p Application July 23, 1954, Serial No. 445,295

11 Claims. (Cl. 66-15) A primary object of the invention is to provide a cir- United States Patent O M' cular knitting machine, of the class designed for production, selectively, of ribbed and plain knit fabrics, having incorporated in the mechanism thereof selective yarn-change and plating devices affording wide latitude in the selection of color combination and plain or tigured design in either or both of the said fabrics.

More specifically, an object of the invention is to provide a knitting machine of the type adapted for knitting seamless hosiery as a continuous strip of tubu lar stocking units or blanks each including a welt or top of ribbed fabric, and a leg section, heel pocket, foot section and toe pocket, all of plain knit fabric, said machine comprising the aforesaid yarn-change and platingdevices together with selective control mechanisms for actuating said devices individually or jointly so as `to produce-a wide variety of multi-color designs in either or both` of the said ribbed and plain knit Vsections. l

Another object is to provide a machine of the stated 4type having provision within the aforesaid wide range of multi-color design for substitution of the different weight yarns required respectively in the rib and plain knit fabrics.

Still another object is to provide novel means for compensating the irregularities which otherwise would result from the` use of the differing weights of yarn, and moroparticularly to insure a consistent and uniform location of the junctures of the yarns differing as to Weight oncolor. at the back center of the stocking.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel stocking and stocking blank in the form of a continuous knitted strip comprising alternate sections of rib and plain` knit fabric each having oranmental designs. where and as desired.

The invention resides also in certain novel' mechanical and structural features `which contribute to theY design of a machine of the aforesaidcharacteristics.

In the attached drawings: f i

:Figi 1 is` an elevational view `of a knitting machine made in accordance with the invention;

Figs. 2 and 3 areenlarged vertical sectional= views in` acommon plane of the lower andf upper parts re-A spectively of theknitting head of the machine;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view on the line 4--4, Fig. 3;'`

Fig; 5 is a sectional view on`v the line 55, Fig. 3;

Fig; 6 is a sectional View on the line 6 6, Fig. 3;

Fig. 7 is a view in perspective of an element of the thread guide means: shown in- Fig. 3;

Fig. 8` is a sectional view on the lined- 8, Fig. 3;

Fig. 9 is a sectional view on the line 9 9, Fig. 2;

Fig. `1.0 isa view in perspectiveV of oneof the dial needles in its associatedjack; f Fig. 11 isaview in perspective of one of the plating yarn wrappingA ngers; l f

Fig. l2 isa fragmentary sectional viewl on the line'` 12-.12, Fig. 2, showing the plating finger actuating cam;

Fig. 13 is a side elevational and partial sectional view 2,873,592 Patented Feb. 17, 1959 `of the plating iinger cam assembly from the line 13-13,

Fig. l2;

Fig. 14 is an enlarged sectional view on the line 14e-14, Fig. 1;

Fig. l5 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view of the machine from the left hand side of Fig. l;

Fig. 15a is a fragmentary elevational view from the line 15a-15a, Fig. 15';

Fig. 16 is a'sectional view on the line 16-16, Fig. 17;

Fig. 17 is a sectional view on the line 17-17, Fig. 16;

Fig. 18 is a front elevational view of the yarn selector' and change mechanism; l

Fig. 19 is a top plan view of the mechanism;

Fig. 20 is a sectional view on the line 20-20, Fig. 18;

Fig. 21 is a rear elevational `View of the mechanism;

Fig. 22 is a fragmentary sectional view on the line Fig. 23 is a side view of a conventional ornamental sock having astand-up ribbed top and plain `knit leg and foot;

Fig. 24 is a similar View of a sock having ornamented stand-up ribbed top and plain knit leg portions as made on my improved machine;

Fig. 25 is a like View of aisock having a turned top of ribbed-fabric and a plain knit leg portion both ornamented by the mechanism forming the subject of the present invention;

Fig. 26 is a `fragmentary view in perspective showing a detail of the yarn control mechanism, and

Fig.A 27 is an enlarged elevational view of the upper portion of the mechanism shown in Fig. 26.

`In the drawings, the reference numeral 1 indicates. the cylinder andthe numeral 2 the dial of the knitting machine. The cylinder needles, two of which are indicated at 3 and 4 respectively, and theV jacks 5 are` supported in the cylinder 1 in conventional manner and are operated by the usual cams mounted in a cam ring 6 and associated cam block 7. The cam 6 and block 7 are mounted in the present instance upon the bed 8 of the machine, and depending from the bed 8 is` a bracket 9 on which is journalled a cylinder-operating gear 11. The gear has an axial upwardly extending sleeve 12 to which the, cylinder 1 is attached, by meansin the present instance of splines (not shown), and on whichthe' cylinder is axially adjustable through the medium of a ring 13 having pins `1^4 which project upwardly through apertures of thehub portion of the gear 1.1 and which provide a seat for the flange 15 at `the lower` end of the cylinder.

A relatively fixed cam ring 16` is supported at the` upper end of the cylinder 1 through the medium in part of a post 17 Awhichextends upwardly from the bed 8,

land slidably mounted in `this ring are sinkers I8 which yarn` spools 25, and below the rack and attached both to the` latter and to the shaft 19 Vis `a gear V26` which is operatively connected. through a pinionn27', shaft 28, and. a pinion 29 at the lower end of said shaft, with a spurgear 31 attached tothe cylinder gear 11. Theshaft 19 together with the rack 2li-is thus rotated in synchro` nsm with thetcylinder 1. p

Secured tothe shaft 19 by set screw 20? immediately below` the gearf26 is a sleeve 32.' As shown in Fig. 2, thissleeve extends `downwardly to a p oint above" the dial 2.2i -Tlhsleeve 32 hasf a seriesfofy longitudinal? slots in its outer peripheral surface, said series embracing theI entire circumference of the sleeve. The slots are indi cated by the broken lines 33 in Fig. 3 and are shown also in Fig. 14, and as shown in Fig. 3 the slots extend at the top into the terminal portion 34 of the sleeve which terminal portion is of greater diameter than the other parts of the sleeve. The upper endk of the slots 33 including the portions thereof which occupy the terminal portion 34 receive blades 35 of the form shown in Fig. 7 and these blades are held in place by a split ring 36. From the lower end of the blades 35 the slots 33 are occupied by elongated blades 37, 4these blades extending to the lower end of the sleeve 32 as shown vin Fig. 2. The blades 35 and 37 form slots at the V,

outer periphery of the sleeve 32 and the these slots will be described below.

A sleeve 38 is press fitted to the outer edges of the blades 37 and is journaled for rotation in the depending function of portion 39 of a member 40, said member having radial arms 41 at its upper end which terminate at their outer which control the operationsof the dial needles, as here- `inafter explained, and is kept from rotating by an arm 30,

see Figs. 14, which is secured to the ring and to one of the posts 23. As shown in Fig. 2, the depending sleeve portion 39 of the member 40 has at its lower end a vertically adjustable collar 50 which normally engages the up- `per surface ofthe ring 44 and constitutes a hold-down for the latter.

The dial needles 46, see Fig. 10, are supported individually at the lower ends of at shanks 47. Each of these Shanks has a circular disc-like mid-section 48 and beow this section a boss 49having a recess 51 in its outer end. The upper end of the shank has an off-set butt 52 and in one-half or 180 of the dial needle assembly the butts 52 are of greater length or height than the butts 52a in the other 180. The circular portions 48 of the Shanks 47 are mounted in a circumferential recess 53, see Figs. 2 and l2, in a sleeve 54 clamped to the outer edges of the blades 37, as hereinafter described, and the butts 52 and 52a are confined by a flange S5 in the cam ring 44, as shownl in Fig. 2.

Also mounted in the recess 53 of the sleeve 54 in alternate arrangement with the portionsv 48 of the needle Shanks is a circumferential series of plating fingers 57, one of which is illustrated in Fig.- l1.` As therein shown, each` of the fingers comprises a circular disc-like midsection 58 corresponding to the mid-section 48 of the shanks ofthe dial needles 46; an upwardly extending arm 59Vhaving at its forward edge a longitudinal series of transversely projecting butts 61 which may be individually and selectively removed as hereinafter Vset forth; a down-v wardly projectingV arm 62 the upper portion 63 of which is curved outwardly, for a purpose hereinafter described, and the lower portion 64 of which contains a series of yarn receiving apertures 65. The lower terminal end66V of the arm 62 which contains the lowermost of the yarn receiving apertures 65 is turned angularly from the plane of the finger as a whole about the longitudinal axis of the arm, and this terminal end is functionally related to the cylinder needles, also as hereinafter described.V The physicaland functional relation of the dial needles 46 lto the cylinder needles 3 is the conventional one as disclosed for example in U. S. Patent 834,763. As sh'own in Fig. 2, the lower ends of the plating fingers normally occupy a position within the line of the cylinder needles 3 and below the upper ends of these needles when the latter are in the elevated positions, and this positionis vestablished by means set forth below. In 4accordance with the usual practice, there are twice as many cylinder needles than dial needles so that only half of or every other, cylinder needle paritcipates in the rib-knitting operation with the dial needles. The plating lingers, alternating with the dial needles as described, are in alignment respectively with the cylinder needles which participate in the rib-knitting operation. f

The circular mid-portions 48 and 58, respectively, of the dial needle shanks and the plating lingers are confined to the recess 53 in the sleeve 54 by means of a split retaining ring 65, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 12, this ring embracing the said mid-sections and having a curved inner surface conforming Yto the curvature of said sections and complementing the arcuate surface of the recess 53. The upper ends of the dial needle shanks are guided in radial slots 70, see Fig. 2, in the upper anged portion of the member 54; and the upper ends of the fingers 57 are similarly guided inrradial slots 90a in depending bosses 90 at the under side of the said flange between the adjoining slots 70.

As previously set forth, the dial needles 46 which occupy the 'usual slots 60 in the upper face of the dial 2 operate conventionallywith respect to the cylinder needles 3, the advance and retractive movements of the needles 46 being effected by oscillation of the shanks 47 about the circular mid-portions 48. The plating fingers, in the performance of their particular function, are also oscillated about the circular mid-sections 58 of the fingers, this oscillation being effected by an actuating cam 67, shown in Figs. 2, l2, and .13, which may be moved selectively into the path of any of the horizontally aligned series of the butts 61. To this end, the cam 67 is mounted vupon a carriage 68 which` is slidably supported on vertical rods 69, 69 depending from the fixed frame of the machine, in the present instance from the framernember 43 as shown in Fig. 1.. The carriage 68 consists of two sleeves 71 and 72, see Fig. 13, which respectively slidably embrace the rods 69, 69 and which are connected by a cross member 73 to which thexcam 67 is attached. -When the cam 67 is in operative position with respect to the plating fingers, all of the fingers which then have'butts 61 in alignment with the cam will be oscillatedv from'the normal retracted positions shown in Fig. 2 to an advanced position wherein the lower ends of the fingers will be projected outwardly past the respective aligned cylinder needles, the angularly offset extremity 66 of the fingers thus oscillated acting as cams against the needles toA dcflect the fingers, which are flexible, to one side of :the latter onV the outward movement and to the other-side of the respective needles in the return movement Aso that the yarn carried by the fingers as previously described will be wrapped around the needles. As the needles move downwardly, the plating yarn will be drawn into the fabric. The mode of operation of this type of plating finger is well known in the art and is fully described in my prior U. S. Patent No. 1,841,249.

The carriage 68 is elevated and lowered through the n medium of an actuating rod 74, ashereinafter morefully described, in order toYbring it into the path of any desired circumferential series of the butts 61 of the fingers. In order to provide for this movement of the cam 67. longitudinally vof the lingers, a contiguous number of the fingers, four n the present instance, as shown at 56 in Fig. 12, are left out, thereby providing a .path for movement of the cam without interference with the butts .of any of the fingers. After actuation by the cam 67, the fingers are'immediately and positively returned vto their original and normal positions by acam 75 attached to the lower ends of the rods 69, as shown in Fig.v 13, this return movement of the finger completing the yarn wrapping operaton previously described.

Thedial needles `46 are actuated by cams i111 the ring 44. These include cams 76, '77, and 78, which are nor mally supported'by springs (not shown) inelevated positions in which they lie out of the path of the needle butts' fac-'rasee S2 andi maybe depressed selectively through the medium of'levers 79, S1', and S2 and by mechanism hereinafter described into positions in the path off the movement of the buttsl 52` and 52a so as to actuate` the associated lingers. The dial needle actuating cams'V also include a fourth cam (not shown) which is mounted" for pivotal movement in avhorizontal plane into selected alternative positions, this cam being actuated through the medium of an arm 80, see Figs. 1 and 14, by mechanism also described below. The manner in which the several cams operate upon the butts 52` and 52a to actuate the needles isessentially thesame as that described in U. S. Patent 834,763 and forms no part of the present invention apart from the fact that the adjustability of the cams provides for putting them into androutvof operation selectively in accordance with the type of knittedv fabric, ribbed or plain, required.`

The device by means of which the sleeve member 54 isiclamped to theblades 37 is illustrated in Figs. 2 and 9. The member'54 iscounter-recessed at the lower end and at one side of adiametrical line for reception of a clamping block 83 which is segmental in form and has an inner semi-circular surface 84 which complements the con fronting portion of the bore 85 of thel sleve member` to substantially embrace the annular series of blades 37. The block 83 is securedtothe member 54 by screws 86, 86 by means of which also the block 83 may be drawn tightly against the outer edges of the blades 37 to clamp the annular series` of blades` securely between the block 83 and the confronting portion of the bore 85 of the said member. A flange 87 is secured by means of a screw 88 tol the underside of the member 54, the llange being slotted as indicated at S9 to receive and guide the lower portions of the liat shanlcs` of the dial needles do, as shown in Fig. 2. Between the slots 89, the liange 87is recessed from the underside, as shown at 91 in Fig.` 2, for reception of the straight edge portion 92 of the lingers 57, the outer peripheral edgeeof the flange 87 constituting a stop` to limit the retractive movements of the lingers andv to establish the lingers in their normal positions as shown in Fig. 2, and the slots themselves acting as guides for the lower portions of the lingers while leaving the lower ends of the fingers free to flex laterally in accordance with their function.

As also shown inFig. 2, the recesses 51 in the bosses 49 ofthe shanks of the dial needles receive an annular coiled spring 93 which exerts, resilient pressure tending to retain the needle shanks andneedles in retracted positions asjshown; and the springs .93 also engage the curved edges 94 of'` the lingers S7 and tend to retain the lingers in the retracted positions. s The spring 93 does not inter- `fere with the actuations or'` thedial needles and the plating lingers by their respective actuating cams.

As previously set forthhthe blades 35 and 37 mounted in the `slots 33 ofthe sleeve 32 themselves form slots at the outer periphery of the sleeve whichextend the fullV length of` thelatter withexception Vof the upper area of Ythe terminal portionr34. These slots, `which are designated by the referenceI numeral 95, are utilized as passages to conduct` the yarn 9.6 from the spools 25 to the plating lingers 57. 1n the present instance eaclryarn end i. e. the strand of yarn drawn from each individual spool occupies its` own individual one of the passages 95. From the lower ends of the passages the yarn ends pass between the adjoining Shanks of the dial needles 46 to the yarn apertures,` 65 ofthe lingers` 57, as best shown in Fig, 2, the yarn` then passing successively through the three apertures from the upper to the lower as shown.` From the respective spools25 the yarn` is guided over the upper rounded edges 97 and 958 'ofr peripheral flanges99` and I1,01 of the` rack 24 anddownwardly through the convolutiofns of a pair of` coiled springsZ and 1113 which en;- `brace the lower ends of andare seatedin peripheral 106j in; the gear 26 which openings extend in continuous series around the circumference of thelatter.

Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawings illustrate the structure of the gear member 26 which provides theV guide openings 106-l The rim portion 107 of the gear is divided in effect into two axially spaced circumferential portions, 1118l and 109 respectively, which are connected solely; by the teeth 111 of the gear, so that between the adjoining pairs of teeth and between the sections 1113 and' 109 of the rim a circumferential series of openings is formed, these openings being those designated by the reference numeral 106 and described above. It will be noted by reference to Fig. 3 that the portions ot the teeth 111 which are engaged by the teeth of the pinion 27 lieV entirely below the openings 106 so that the pinion teeth d o not interfere with or in any way affect the yarn passing through the said openings.

From the openings 1116, the yarn passes to the upper ends of the slots 95 between the blades 35; Some of the yarn ends pass behind the ring 36 and between coil and spring 112 and 113, the spring 112 seating in a circumferential recess 114 in the peripheral surface of the upper terminal portion 3d of the sleeve 32 and conlining the upper ends of the blades 35, and the spring` 113 seating upon the outer peripheral surface of and confining the retaining ring 36 and being itself confined by the sides of the recesses 115 in the blades 35 provided for reception of said ring. Other of the yarn ends passes into the slots 95 below the ring36 and the spring 113. This is clearly shown in Fig. 3. i

Yarn for production of the base fabric, plain or ribbed as the case may be, is brought to the needles; 3, and 46 as the case may be, from spools or cones 116,'l see Figs. 1 and 14, which are supported on a relatively lixed bracket or rack designated generally by the reference numeral 117 and carried by an extension 118 of the lixed frame of the machine. From the cones 116 the yarn ends pass upwardly through suitable tensioning devices 119 and individual guides V121 to a yarn selector and change mechanism` mounted at the top of the'rnachine and indicated generally by the reference numeral 122.V This mechanism receives and retains the yarn ends from each of the individual spools 116 and passes a selected one yarn tothe needles. The mechanism operates when actuated to sever the latter yarn and to connect to the portion thereof which extends to the needles a selected one of the other ends of yarn passing from' the spools 116. From the yarn changing unit the selected yarn endpasses upwardlyy through guides 123 and 124 (see grooves 104 and 105 respectively inthe said lianges.

The yarn ends pass downwardly through guide openings Figs. 1, 15 and 26)` to a guide linger 335 and thence downwardly through guides 120, 125 and 126 to the knitting needles. In the present instance,` guidesA and 124 are components ofa conventional stop motion system for the detection of slack or broken running yarn. The tension` finger 3351s also included in this" system, but, under certain conditions, through associated mechanismfunction's to vary the length of yarn between the yarn selector and the needles for a purpose hereinafter disclosed. In the several ligures, the yarn'end" is'indif cated by the reference numeral 127.

The yarn changer mechanism'is illustrated in Figs.` 18 to`22i inclusive. It operates` on the principle fully dis,- closed in my prior United States Patent Nos. 1,624,792 and 1,341,249, and has been specifically described in my co-pending application Serial No. 412,511led'February e joined together by `a transverse member 138. The` sider members 136 and 137 are substantially Lfshaped as shown in Fig. 20, and the lower ends of these arms en# 4tend forwardly and carry a transverse rod 139 at'their forward ends.- The one end of the rod projects beyond by screws 141 and 142 is the forwardly projecting bracket 143 which carries the yarn guides 121 so that the yarn guides move with the frame 131. The lower forwardly extending arms of the side members 136 and 137 are connected by means of a transverse bar 144.

-Pivotally supported on the shaft 132 between the side members 136 and 137 and held in fixed relatively spaced relation between these side members is a series of yarn ,guide fingers 145. These fingers are shaped as best il lustrated in Fig. 20, and as therein shown they extend downwardly from the shaft 132 and under the rod 139, the forward ends curving upwardly beyond that rod and reach, having a yarn guide eyelet 146 in its extremity. Each of the fingers is normally resiliently supported in a rela? tively elevated position, as shownlin full lines in Fig. 20, by a springA 147, these springs being supported on a rod 148 extending transversely vbetween the side members 136 and 137 and having their lower ends in pressure engagement with the transverse bar 144.- The upper ends of the springs bear respectively against transversely projecting lugs or pads 149 at the upper edges and towards .theupper ends of the respective fingers, these pads being in side by side relation as shown in Fig. 19. The fingers may be individually depressed to a position illustrated in broken lines in Fig. 20 against the pressure of the springs 147. It will be noted that in the present instance the fingers 145 are ten in number and that there is a corresponding number of the guide eyelets 21 in the bracket 143.

The finger-supporting carriage 131 is mounted for transverse movement in the fixed frame 135 of the yarn change unit, to an extent permitted by the side members 133` and 134 of the latter frame. A spring 151 is secured at one end to the frame side member 133, as indicated at 15,2, and is secured at its opposite end 153 to the side member 137 of the carriage 131. This spring thereby exerts resilient pressure tending to hold the frame 131 with the fingers in a position at the right hand side of the' fixed frame 133 as illustrated in the several figures.

The carriage 131 is adapted to be moved to the opposite v side of the frame 135, wherein it lies in proximity to the fixed frame side member 134, lby means of a lever 154, see particularly Figs. 19, 20, and 2l. This lever iS pivotally attached at 155 to the fixed frame 135 and is operatively connected to the carriage 131 at its upper end through the medium of a rearwardly projecting pin 156 on the member 137 which projects into a longitudinal slot 157 inthe upper endof the said lever. The lever 154 has.

secured thereto a laterally projectingl arm S the underside of whichis engaged by the upper end of a rod 159 and through Vthe medium of this rod the lever 154 is moved to the right as viewed in Fig. 21 to thereby move the carriagev 131 to the right, as viewed in the same ngure,jinto a position in proximity to the fixed frame member 134. As previously set forth this movement is in opposition' to the pull of the spring 151, and when the rod 159 is subsequently depressed the spring will draw the carriage 131 to its original position as shown in the several figures of the drawings.

j In conjunction with the structure described above, means is provided for selectively depressing the fingers In thepresent.- instance .this device comprises .a segmental member 161 which is attached through the mediumof a hub 162, see Fig. 22, to a shaft 163, thisk shaft beingl journalled forv oscillation in the fixed side frame members l133 and 134. The member 161 has a transversely projecting pin 164 connected at its outer end to the upper end of an actuating arm 165; andv the member-I -161 also carries at its opposite side a transverse pin 166..v4 The pin 166 passes through a slot 167 in a cam 168,- this' cam being journalled for oscillation around the axis of the .shaft 163 on a sleeve 169 which slidably embraces the said shaft. One end of the sleeve 169 is riveted overat 171 against the outer side of the cam 168, and the otherend of the sleeve is flanged as indi-Y cated at 172 so as to confine to the sleeve 169 the upper looped end 1'73 of an arm 174 which is secured to and extends upwardly from a rod 175 slidably mounted in the fixed side frame members 133 and 134. With this arrangement axial movement of the rod 175 will result in a corresponding movement of the sleeve 169 and of the cam 168 longitudinally of the rock shaft 163. In this movement an operative connection is maintained between the member 161 and the cam 168 by means of the pin 166, so that in any position of the cam 168 the rocking movement of the shaft 163 will be transmitted to the cam.

Longitudinal traverse movements of the rod 175 are effected through the medium of a cam 176 which is supported on the lower end of an arm 1 77 depending from a sleeve 178 journalled on the shaft 163. The cam 176 has a cam slot 179 which receives a pin 181 projecting from an end of the rod 1,75. One end of the slot 179 i'. e. that end which is occupied by the pin 181 when the rod 175 is in the position shown in Figs. 18 and 19, extends at right angles to the axis of the rod 175, whereas the remainder and main portion of the slot extends at an angle to said axis so that when the sleeve 178 is turned counter-clockwise, as viewed in Figs. 18 and 19, the cam 176 will function to shift the rod 175 to the left from the position in which it is shown in those figures. By reason of the aforedescribed connection of the shaft 175 with the cam 168 this movement of the rod will have the effect of moving the said cam in the same direction. In the present instance oscillation of the sleeve 178 is effected through the medium of a lever arm 183 which extends transversely from both sides of the sleeve. One end of this arm is pivotall'y attached to a rod 184 and the opposite end is similarly attached to a rod 185.

By means hereinafter described, the cam 176 is actuated so as to bring the cam 168fselectively into positions accurately aligned with the pads 149 of the respective yarn guide fingers 145. In the present instance and with reference to Fig. 19 the cam 168 is shown in an extreme right hand position where it is aligned with the yarn guide finger which occupies the fifth position from the left end of the series as viewed from the front or top of the mechanism. From this position the cam may be traversed by action of the cam 176 to the left, so as to bring it into alignment with any of the other yarn guide fingers of the set of five to the left of center. In other words, the traverse of the cam 168 is limited in the present instance to a range embracing five only of the yarn guide fingers. In order that the cam 168 may be brought into alignment with the five yarn guide lingers t-o theright of the center of the series of ten mounted'in the carriage' 131,v it is necessary that the carriage 131 be traversed to the left, as viewed in Fig. 19, to a position at' the opi posite side of the fixed frame or in proximity to the fixed frame side member 134. In this alternative position the five yarn guide fingers at the right of the series will occupy a position within'the range of movement of the cam 16S as actuated by the cam 176 so that the latter cam may function as hereinafter described to bring the cam 168 into accurate alignment with any selected one of the yarn guide fingers of this series.

When thecam 168 has been brought into alignment with a selected finger, oscillation of the cam through the medium of the member 161, the pin 166, and the actuating rod 165, will depress the finger from the normal elevated position to the depressed position indicated. in broken lines in Fig. 20., When the fingers are in the elevated position the yarn ends passing through the eyelets 146 `are held out of the path kof 'an oscillatory yarn pick-up member designated bythe reference numeral 186;

- darsena When any -oneof'vtlie yarn ends isA depressedhowever by the. aforedescribed depression of the` associated yarn guide finger 145, the yarn end is moved into a position in the path of the pickfup member 186, as best illustrated in Fig. 20L The yarn pick-up finger 186 is carried by a shaft 187 which, as shown in Fig. 20, has a bevel pinion 188 at its inner end, said pinion meshing` with a segmental bevel gear 189 formed at the edge of the member 161. Angular movement of the latter member about the axis of shaft 163 is accompanied by a corresponding movement of the pick-up finger 186. Normally this iinger occupies a relatively elevated position as illustrated in Figs. 18 and 20, and when oscillated as 'described the nger will move downwardly t-o pick up on the outer end thereof the yarn which, by actuation of the member 161, has been' moved into the path of the linger. The linger will at the same time pick up the yarn which at the moment is passing to the knitting head, this by reason of the fact that that yarn, designated 127 in Fig. 20, extends from the associated eyelet 121V under the lower edge of andupwardly behind a lixedshield 128. The pick-up finger carries the two yarns upwardly to a knotter designated generallyV by the reference numeral 191, said knotter joining a part of the yarn change mechanism and functioning to sever the running yarn 127 and to knot the endportion of that yarn which extends Vto the needles to the newly introduced yarn so that the latter is fed to the needles and in effect replaces' the yarn 127; In this manner, the yarns from the cones 116 may be substitutedv one for another in the knitting operation. The yarn ends passing from the cones to and through the eyelets 121 and 146, when not inuse are retained by a common clamping device (not shown) in position for subsequent transfer operations of the character described. The mechanism ofA the knetter, the yarn severing and yarn clamping devices is" fully disT closed in my prior patents mentioned above and in my U. SL Patent 1,841,249 and forms no part of thepresent invention. The'novel features of the yarn changer and their mode of operation Will be readily understood by those familiar with the art by referenceto the foregoing detailed description of thenger traverse and actuating devices.

It will be noted that the yarn change mechanism provides for interchange of ten different yarns or ten yarns differing as to color or in other respect. It is proposed in accordance with the invention that one-half of the series of `yarn lingers, namely thefive'fingers adjoin# ing one end of the series, shall carry a` dilerent weight yarn than the five fingers at theother'end of the series.' Thus, with the yarn finger carriageat one end of' its traverse a yarn ofone weight will be guidedto the needles,` and with the carriagetat the other end `of its traverse a yarn of a different weight willi passtothe needles. in each case the color or other properties off the yarn may be` varied within the range Wof" the. fivevngers. of the subseries` whichV atf the moment` occupies` an" operative position `with respect'to i. e; within the range offmovement of, the cam 168.v In particular thedevice-provides for the use of yarns of differenti weights in `theribllniit upper portionof the stocking and in` the plain knit lower leg andn foot portions of the stocking respectively, and" also -providesfor `the use selectivelyy in each of these portions of the stocking ofiive different. colors or characters .of

i n a n t YInvthe aforedescribedneedle, actuatmg' device l1t Was shown thatby use of; theadiustablecarns controlling the operationsof; the dial` needles, `that the machine may be operated both= with and without the dial needles topr duce ribbedi and plain fabrics as desired. In this respect ther machine operates in accordance. with the principle setforth` inthe aforesaid U. S. Patent.834,\763.` The yarn selector mechanism described above is individually operative.. intbothsthe` rib andplain knitting 'operations to 1.

change the yarn, within the aforesaid selective ranges of fivecontrol" fingersA` respectively, for theV production of' color or colors `afforded by the multiple spools in the-rack- 24. By use of the yarn selector and plating mechanisms jointly Ior in predeterminedsequence, a wide variety ofqo-rnamental design may be obtained in both the upper ribbed` and lowerplain knit portions of the stocking; With` this wide range of color anddesign the machine provides also for use in the upper ribbed portion of the stocking of the relatively heavy yarn conventionally employed in this part, and for use in the lower leg portion off yarnV of lesser weight. The heavier yarn may also be introduced into the heel and toe portions, or these portionsrnay be reinforced by introduction of yarnV from the plating sources.

The wide range of possible design is illustrated in Figs. 23, 24 and 25. Fig. 23 shows a conventional chil'ds sock with stand-up top. The `top portion 201 is of the conventional rib fabric and is composed of yarnV somewhat heavier than the yarn employed in the lower portion 202 and foot portions of the stocking which are of plain knit fabric. Fig. 24 shows a similar type of stocking Wherein both the upper ribbed portion 283 and` the lower leg portion 284 are ornamented by introduction of'. colored yarn in specific patterns. The extreme upper portion of the ribbed welt shows three horizontal striped portions 285', 2do and 267 of color different from the base yarn. A similar arrangement of colored stripes is shown in the lower end portion of the-ribbed welt designatedby the reference numeral 2&8. These horizontal stripes in the ribbedv welt are produced entirely by manipulation of the yarns passing tothe needles from thecones 116 through the medium of the yarn selector mechanism described above. The intermediate portion 2890i the ribbed Welt is'produced on the other hand solely by means of the plating devices, the platingngers 57 being manipulated through the medium of the adg'ustablecam 67 to introduce the plating yarns at the required points in successive courses so as to form the` diamond design in the desired color or combination of colors.` The plain knit portion of the stocking in the leg; area isl charac-f terized by a series of vertical stripes 211 in relatively spaced relation which vertical `stripes terminating at top and bottom` inv horizontal stripes 212 and 213 respectively. ln this case, the horizontal stripes212 and 213 are produced by means of the yarn selector mechanism and the vertical stripes 211 by the plating devices.

The stocking illustrated in Fig. 25 is of the so-called turned-down Vtype wherein the ribbedupper portion 214 of i is of plain knit Afabric shows `a designV resulting from asequential operation of the yarn selector mechanism `and the plating devices. The formationwof this `designwill be readily understood from the foregoing descriptions ofthe stocking in Figr24.

The operations of the machine are controlled by a pat"- tern drum 221, a measuring chain 222, a yarn selector chain 223, and a plating chain 2 24. The drum V22,1 carries cams, designated collectively by` the` reference numeral 225, andA is' mounted for rotation on a shaft 226 mounted in the fixed frame of the machine. The drum has a ratchet Wheel` 227 at one end which is engageable by a pawl 228 to advance the drum step by` step.

The; pawl 228,is` carried by an arm229 pivotally mountedat 231' on an arm. 252 of a continuously rocking lever 233 of bellcrank form which is journaled ona shaft 234 supported in the frame of the machine, see Fig. 15,

A spring235, Fig. 17, tends to retain the pawl in lengagement with the ratchet wheel 227. The pawl arm 229, Figs. 14 and 15,' has a transverse pin 236 which engages one arm 237 of a lever 238 journaled on a shaft 239 rotatably mounted in the frame. Another arm 241 of this lever carries a roller 242 which is engaged with the measuring chain 222 so that the high links of that chain may operate to retract the arm 237 and permit the pawl 228 to engage the ratchet wheel 227 under action of the spring 235. When the pawl is thus engaged, the pattern drum will be advanced in angular increments.

The chain 222 is carried on a sprocket 243 which is journaled for rotation on the shaft 226, and attached to the sprocket is a ratchet wheel 244. The ratchet wheel, and the sprocket, are advanced step by step by a pawl 245 pivotally mounted on a pin 246 projecting transversely from the lever 233. A spring 247, see Fig. 1, retains the pawl in engagement with the ratchet wheel.

The sprocket 220 is mounted for rotation on the shaft 226 andis given a step by step rotation by a pawl 248 which is pivotally attached to the outer end of an arm 250 on a rock shaft 249 journaled in the frame of the machine and is held by a spring 251 in engagement with a ratchet Wheel 252 secured to the sprocket, see Fig. 16. The shaft 249 is operatively connected through an arm 253 at its opposite end and a roller 254 with a cam 255, this cam being mounted on a continuously rotating stub shaft 256. The cam has iour uniformly spaced elevations 255a each of which actuates the pawl 248 to advance the ratchet wheel to a predetermined extent and with it the sprocket 225 together with the chains 223 and 224 carried by the sprocket.

The stub shaft 256 carries a gear 257 which constitutes an element of a gear train connecting the cylinder gear 11 with a motor 258. The train includes a bevel gear 259 journaled on a shaft 261 mounted in the frame and meshing with the gear 11. The hub 262 of the gear 259 carries a clutch 263 which is axially adjustable to connect the gear selectively with pinions 264 and 265, said clutch being adjustable through a lever 266 and yoke 267 and being actuated by cams on the drum 221 as indicated in Fig. 17. When the gear 259 is connected to the pinion 264, the needle cylinder is rotated continuously; and when c011- nected to the pinion 265 the needle cylinder is given the oscillatory motion required for formation of the heel and toe portions of the stocking.

As shown in Fig. 16, the pinion 264 meshes with the gear 257, and the aforesaid gear train includes also a pinion 268 on a shaft 269, a gear 271 on this same shaft, a pinion 272 and bevel gear 273 on a jack shaft 274, and a bevel pinion 275 on the motor shaft 276 which meshes with the gear 273. Y

The pinion 265 is engaged by a segmental gear 277 on the rock lever 233, previously described, and this lever is actuated by way of an arm 278 which is pivotally 'connected at 279 to the lever and at 281 to the cam, see Figs. 1 and 17. yThe segmental gear 277 is thus also connected through elements of the aforesaid gear train to the motor 258.

The function and mode of operation of the cam drum 221 is essentially the same as described in my United States Patent 2,422,568. Speed regulation of the knitting operations is obtained in the present instance by electronic'means -under control of a potentiometer 282 which is actuated by a ring cam 28) on one end of the drum 221. The potentiometer is connected with the cam through a pinion283, a gear segment 284 journaled for oscillation `on a shaft 285 fixed in the frame, a lever 286 connected with the segment, and a cam follower roller` 287 on. the lever. A spring 288 holds the roller against the cam. '.fflhe drum 221 through its several cams 225 controls the operations of the cylinder and dial needles. The shaft )285 provides a' pivotal support for a number of lifter arms289, 291, 292 which are rocked in yertieal planes by suitably placed cams on the drum and which actuate rods 293, 294 and 295 connected respectively with the cam actuating levers 82, 81 and 79 respectively. A fourth lifter arm 296 is operatively connected through a rod 297, an arm 298 secured to the Vrod (see Fig. l), a connecting rod 299, 'and a bell crank lever 301 with the cam-actuaing arm 89 previously referred to, and the lifter arm 296 is also operatively associated with one of the drum cams for actuation in timed relation with the other dial needle cams and with the other op erating parts of the machine.

Also pivotally mounted on the shaft 285 is a lifter arm 382 which is operatively associated with a suitable cam on the drum and with the rod 159 which actuates the lever 154 of the yarn selector unit previously described.

The cylinder cams are actuated from the drum 221 by cams on the latter associated respectively with bell crank levers 383, 384, 385 and 386, and rods 387, 388, 389 and 311 connected respectively to the levers and extending to the cam ring 6 and block 7 in which the cams are mounted as previously set forth.

As previously described, axial adjustment of the yarn selector cam 168 are effected through the medium of the cam 176 and lever arm 183. The latter is connected through the rod 184 with an arm 312, see Fig. 15, on the end of the shaft 239. The shaft is rocked and its angular position is determined by the action on an arm 313 of the cam links of the yarn selector chain 223, see Fig. 14, said arm being secured to the shaft and having a follower roller 314 at its outer end in engagement with the chain.

The rod which actuates the member 161 to, in turn, actuate the cam 168, is attached at its lower end, see Fig. l, to an arm 315 pivotally mounted on a pin 316. 4The arm 315 carries a pawl 317 which is operatively associated with a continuously oscillating element 318, said element receiving its oscillation through a rod 328 from an eccentric 319 on a shaft 321, see Figs. 1 and 15, continuously rotated through a gear 322 and a pinion 323 on the shaft 28. The rod 185 attached to the lever arm 183 has attached to its lower end a pawl guard 183a which normally, when the lever arm is as shown in Fig. 1, will deflect thepawl from the element 318 so as to prevent oscillation or displacement by the latter of the arm 315. When the lever arm 183 is actu` ated as described above by the yarn selector chain ,223, the resulting elevation of the rod 185 withdraws the pawl guard and permits the pawl to engage the element 318, which then rocks the arm 315 and causes the rocl.V 165 to turn the member 162 and to thereby actuate the yarn finger depressing cam 168. This device for actuating the member 162 is disclosed in detail in my United States Patent 1,624,792. Y

The yarn knotting and clipping elements of the yarn selector vunit 122 are actuated by a rock 'shaft 324'in accordance with the mechanism and principles set forth in my prior United States patents aforesaid. In the present instance the shaft has an arm 325 at its lower end which carries a roller 326 arranged for engagement with a cam 327 on the end of the shaft 32,1. The cam, see Figs. 15 and 15a, has an element 328 which when engaged with the roller 326 acts to rock the shaft 324 to actuate the yarn-clipping and -knotting devices; and the cam has a second element 329 which functions to return the shaft to the original position after actuation by the lelement V328. lNormally, the shaft 324 is held by a latch lever 331 on the end of shaft 163 in an elevated position in which, as shown in Figs. 15 and 15a, the roller 326 lies out of the path of the continuously rotating cam element328. When the latch yelement 331 is depressed, which occurs when the shaft 163 is turned to actuate the yarn finger 4depressing cam 168 the shaft 324 drops 13 downwardly tol bring. thesrollerinto thepath of.' cam element 328 which then rocks the shaft 324. to lactuate the yarn clipping, and knotting devicesof the selector unit. Such rocking` of the. shaft also` shifts the roller into thepath of camelementr329 whichactsv immediately to return the shaft tothe original. position and simultaneously the-shaft is elevated by the latch 33"'1. In` this position also the roller is brushed by the high portion of. the cam element 329 at each revolution, ,as shown. in Fig. 15,-7 l t The actuating rod 74 for the plating finger carn67 is actuated from the chain 224. As shown `in Figs'. 1 and 14,.the\rod 74-carries an arm 332 which seats on the end ofa lifter arm 333 pivotally mounted on the shaft 239 `and having a roller 334 engaged with the chain 224; The position of` the` cam67 with respect to the butts 61 of the fingers Y57 is thus determined by the cam links of the chain 224. Asrpreviouslyf` noted, the butts 61` are removable selectively to afford" the desired plated pattern. j

As noted above, the machine provides for feeding to the needles ar different` weight of yarn for the -rib and plainknit-fabrics respectively, and in each case for interchanging the yarn with a number of` yarns of different color but of sameV weight so afsV to forni horizontal stripes of different or contrasting color. I'n such interchanges, it is desirable that the knot between the diiierent color yarns fall as nearly as possible 'at' the back center of the stocking and in alignment with each other. There is a difference, however, inthe lengths of yarn required for knitting a single course of a given number of stitches in plain and rib knit fabrics respectively; so that unless compensation is provided,fthe knots in the ribbed fabric will not-be aligned with the knots in the plain fabric. This variable is complicated bythe fact that in the present instance different weights of yarn are used in the two fabrics.

In Figs. 26 and 27, I haveillustrated a device for compensating the aforesaid variation so as'to bring the knots in the two fabrics into approximate alignment at the back center of the stocking. The device consists of a guide ngeri 335 over which the running yarn passes in its travel from .the yarn selector unit to the needles. The finger` 335 is` connected in the present instance to a d'et'ector orstop motion `device 336 so that excessive tension on the'yarn will draw the finger down tortheposition shown in dotted lines at 337 and therebyoperateV thesto'p motion.. This freedom of movement of` the fingerA a'ndits lost motion between the normal elevated position and position 337 also compensatesf forv the momentary interruption inthe feed of the yarnwhich occurs when* the selector unitioperates` to changefrom one foundation yarn to another. The device 336 is mounted on a sleeve 338 which is slidably supported on a vertical rod 339 secured in o-ne of the arms 341 of the spider 22. The downward movement of the sleeve 338 is limited by a collar 342 secured to the rod 339; and the sleeve is prevented from turning on the rod by a pin 343 `on the latter which extends through a longitudinal slot 344 in the sleeve.` p

The sleeve carries a roller 345 at'its lower end which is engaged by a lever 346 pivotally secured to an upstanding bracket arm 347 on the spider arm 341. The underside of this lever is engaged by the upper end of a rod 348 the lower end of which seats on a lift finger 349 pivotally attached to the shaft 285 and operatively asso ciated with a properly located cam on the drum 221. When the lever 346 is elevated by action of the cam drum, the sleeve 338 is elevated and with it the finger 335, is indicated in broken lines in Fig. 26, thereby inf creasing the length of the yarn between the selector or knotter and the needles. In the present instance, this elevation will occur simultaneously with the change over from plain knitting to rib knitting but after the change of yarn at the selector. The knot formed in said change will since elevation of.` the. sleeve will haven provided. fthe additional length of yarn'between theselector andthe needles required inthe knittingofthe individual course of r-ib fabric, any subsequent knot at the juncture of two different yarns will also fall at the desired'back center of thestocking. The linger will remain elevated, during knitting of the ribbed fabric and all knots between the different colored yarns used inrthis fabric will `lie at the desired position `at the back ofthe stocking.

WhenY the change is made from rib to plain knitting, the sleeve 338 andV finger 335 will assume the depressed positions shown in`- the drawings, which will reduce' the length; of yarn between the knot where it is formed `and therneedles. Again the knotting of'` the different foundation yarn for` the plain knit fabric will precede the depression of the sleeve so that the'knotiwill fall-.atthe desired position.Y The finger will remain depressed during knitting of the plain fabricyhowever, andthe` knotstsubsequently made in changes of color will fallV where desired. It isevident that the amount of compensation may beaccura'tely regulated by adjusting `the height ofthe cam actuatingttherlifter 349.` v p The operation of the machine in the knitting of a con-l tinuous stripof stocking blanks will'be readily understood by those familiar withthe art or by reference to the prior United States patents' mentioned above. The essential operations are conventional in this phase ofthe knitting operation. The devices for selectively changing the foundation yarn, and the introduction selectively of plating yarns of-rdilering colors, are also known in the art, a'sfhe'rein indicated.` The manner in which these mechanisms have been` combined so as to make possible theil use-intheknitting ofboth portionsrof` the individual blank to afford in each as desired arwide: variety of` ornamental pattern differing both as` to configuration and color combination, and the means for changing the physical` prop# erties `of the foundation yarn without imposition of limits as to pattern or color is novel and. constitutes a primary feature of the applicants invention as defined inthe appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a circular knitting machine having a rotary needle cylinder andl'a rotary needle dial, needles` in said cylinder and dial, and relatively fixed cylinder needle and dial needle actuatingcams, mechanism for rotating the cyliner, a dial-supporting shaft extending upwardly from the dial, a spool rack mounted onV the upper end-of the shaft, a plurality of spools on the rack, yarnwrap fingers opera tively associated with the cylinder` needles, means for mounting"l said fingersin annular seriesron` the said shaft abovethed-ialg relatively/fixed and axially adjustable cam means for actuating said lingers, transmission means for operatively connecting the cylinder rotating mechanism with the shaft at a point between the spools and the said fingers, and yarn guide means rotatable with the shaft for conducting the yarn from the respective spools to the individual fingers.

2. A circular knitting machine according to claim 1 wherein the yarn guide elements include channels extendinglongitudinally of the shaft and. radially within theannular series of ngers.

V3. A knittinggmachine according to claim 2 wherein the said transmission means includes a gear element connected to the shaft below the said rack and having a rim and teeth extending downwardly below said rim, and a pinion connected to the cylinder rotating mechanism and engaging the lower end portions of the teeth in an area below and spaced from the said rim so as to leave unobstructed openings between the adjoining teeth of the gear element, said openings constituting elements of the said 'yarn-guide means.

4. In a circular knitting machine, a needle cylinder and needles guided therein, a depending shaft above and in axial alignment with thelcylinder, a needle dial attached to the lower end of the shaft at the upper end of the cylinder and needles guided in said dial, mechanism for synchronously rotating the cylinder and shaft, yarn wrap fingers mounted in circumfercntial'series on the shaft for rotation with the latter and operatively associated with the cylinder needles, sleeve means secured to the shaft and comprising yarn guide channels extending to said fingers, and a yarn spool rack supported on said shaft at the upper end of the said sleeve means.

5. A knitting machine according to claim 4 including a cam ring embracing the shaft at a point intermediate the upper and lower ends of the channels, cams mounted in the ring in operative association with the dial needles, cam means for actuation of the yarn wrap fingers also located in the area between the upper and lower ends of the channels, and mechanism for adjusting said cam means axially of the shaft.

6. A knitting machine according to claim 4 wherein the said sleeve means comprisesan inner longitudinally slotted sleeve, blades fitted in the slots and projecting beyond the outer surface of the sleeve, and outer sleeve means embracing and confining the blades and forming with the latter and said inner sleeve the yarn guide channels.

7. A knitting machine according to claim 6 including a'collar clamped around the lowenends of the blades and constituting an element of the sleeve means, means in said collar for pivotally supporting the dial needles and said fingers in midportions thereof, a relatively `fixed cam ring supported at the upper end of the collar, cam mounted in the ring for engagement with the upper end portionsof the dial needles to oscillate the latter, finger Oscillating cam means engageable with the upper end portions of the fingers, and means for adjusting the cam means .axially of the shaft.

8. In a circular knitting machine having a rotary needle cylinder and a rotary needle dial, needles in said cylinder, a depending shaft supporting the dial at the upper end of the cylinder, a needle in said dial for each alternate cylinder needle, each said dial needle having a shank at its inner end extending upwardly along said shaft and comprising an intermediate fulcrum portion, a yarn wrap nger cooperatively disposed with respect to each of said alternate cylinder needles and each comprising a shank extending upwardly along the said shaft, said shanks being substantially in parallel alignment and interspersed with the shanks of the dial needles, each of the finger shanks comprising an intermediate fulcrumportion, circumferential means on the shaft providing a pivotal support for the fulcrum portions of the shanks' both of the dial needles and the fingers, radial guide means for said shanks, cam means for actuating the cylinder needles, ,and other cam means operatively associated with the shanks for actuating the dial needles and the fingers. f y 9. A circular knitting machine according to claim 8 wherein the cam means for actuating the dial needles comprises a cam ring at the upper ends of the needle shanks, the said means foractuating the fingers comprises a cam adjustable in axial direction with respect to the said shaft in the space between the said cam ring and the said pivotal support means for the shanks and externally of the shank circle, and means for feeding yarn to the lingers from the inside of said circle and between the shanks of the dial needles.

10. In a circular knitting machine having a rotary needle cylinder and a rotary needle dial, needles carried by the cylinder and relatively fixed cams for actuating said needles, a dial shaft extending upwardly from the dial, an annular series of flat shanks pivotally mounted on the shaft for oscillation in planes radial to the shaft axis and extending downwardly from said pivot toward the cylinder needles, a dial needle on the lower end of each alternate shank and a guide slot for each said needle in the dial, a yarn wrap linger at the lower ends Lof` the other shanks operatively positioned with respect to the cylinder needles, a relatively fixed cam ring at the upper ends of the shanks and cam means in `said ring in operative association with the needle shanks, and actuating cam means for the fingers engageable with the finger shanks in the area between the cam ring and the said pivot and externally of the shank circle, and means including guides on the shaft for feeding yarn to the lingers from inside of' said circle.

1l. A circular knitting machine according to claim 10 wherein the dial needles and fingers are arranged for cooperation with the same alternate cylinder needles.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 834,763 Scott Oct. 30, 1906 868,332 Donner Oct. 15, 1907 -.1,120,578 Williams Dec. 8, 1914 1,841,249 Y Larkin Jan. l2, 1932. 2,101,006 Lawson et al Nov. 30, 1937 2,132,135 Taylor Oct. 4, 1938 `2,204,417 Lawson June 1l, 1940 2,307,969 Southworth et al I an. 12, 1943 2,375,474 Holmes et al May 8, 1945 2,411,422 Grothey Nov. 19, 1946y Y 2,618,444 Taggart Nov. 18, 1952 2,625,028 Wilson Jan. 13, 1953 y2,660,041 Schmidt Nov. 24, 1953 Stibbe et al. Nov. 15, 1955 

